Wild Horse, Wild Ride

Bendfilm teams up with the Tower Theatre Foundation for a special encore presentation of our 2011 Audience Award Winner.

A handful of unforgettable characters set out on a 100-day quest to tame a wild mustang in this stunning and poignant documentary. Among them: Charles, a Navajo grandfather out to re-capture his youth; George, a grizzled cowboy with a stubborn streak; and Wylene, a blond beauty with a theatrical flair and a nerve of steel. Man and horse must transform from scared strangers to close companions. But those who prevail may find themselves vying to keep their horses when they ultimately all go up for adoption at a public auction.

Each year thousands of wild horses are rounded up and removed from public lands by the U.S. Government. All will need permanent homes. None has ever been touched by a human hand.

Wild Horse, Wild Ride tells the story of the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge, an annual contest that dares 100 people to each tame a totally wild mustang in order to get it adopted into a better life beyond federal corrals.

Stunning and poignant, Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus’ debut feature documentary chronicles a handful of unforgettable characters from their first uneasy meeting with their horses and over three months as they attempt to transform from scared strangers to the closest of companions.

Eventually all will converge in Fort Worth, Texas, to compete against each other and offer the horses up for adoption at an auction in which the trainers, if they wish to keep their horses, must bid against the public.

This film traverses the United States to tell stories of the profound the bonds that can develop between people and animals. From the rolling hills of New Hampshire to the Navajo Nation to the heart of Cowboy Country, the film captures a journey that is at times harrowing, humorous, heartwarming and heartbreaking as these wild spirits- both human and horse- embark on the ride of their lives.

Community Involvement

The Tower is a hub for culture, connections, and artistic experiences. It is “Bend’s Living Room.” Hundreds of nonprofit and community organizations use our stage each year. And the next generation of theatre-goers enjoy LessonPLAN programs that engage their minds and hearts.